Newcastle United boss Glenn Roeder is approaching a year in the job admitting his club's story would make a bestseller.

The 51-year-old replaced Graeme Souness at the helm on a caretaker basis last February, and has since witnessed a mad dash for Europe, a record-breaking end to Alan Shearer's illustrious career, a crippling injury crisis and a youth-inspired recovery.

But as he heads into tomorrow's Premiership clash with former club West Ham on the back of Wednesday night's embarrassing FA Cup drubbing at the hands of Championship leaders Birmingham City, Roeder knows only too well he can take nothing for granted.

He said: "We need to not look too far ahead at the moment. We need to just very much focus on the next game and keep picking up points over the next five or six games to make sure we climb the table.

"Once we get into the top half of the table, we have got to make sure we stay there and see how high we can finish.

"What has happened so far this season - and we are only talking about the middle of January - it would not be a chapter in a book, this would be a book on its own, and the season is not finished."

Sunday's remarkable 3-2 win at White Hart Lane, in which United survived a mauling before Obafemi Martins and Nicky Butt snatched the points in a late smash-and-grab raid, propelled the club into 11th place, eight points adrift of Portsmouth in sixth.

But the midweek debacle, which saw Steve Bruce's side run out 5-1 winners at St James' Park, severely dented the momentum the Roeder and United had established.

Another Premiership three points against the Hammers, who went down 2-0 in the reverse fixture in September thanks to strikes from Martins and Damien Duff, is a must if order is to be restored.

The Birmingham defeat focused attention on he club's need to strengthen during the transfer window, and the manager is trying desperately to do just that.

Roeder said: "No-one wants players in here more than me.

"I am working as hard as I can. When you bring a new player in, you are putting your judgment on the line.

"The chairman and the supporters can trust me that I will do my homework to find players who can help Newcastle United's present squad to be better than it is now."